ASTANA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Stronger relations with China was Kazakhstan's foreign policy priority and would help protect regional peace and stability, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev said during an interview with Xinhua on the eve of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit here.

    "China is a great neighbor of Kazakhstan," he said. "To cement relations with China suits Kazakhstan's interest, and is conducive to regional peace and stability."

    Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Kazakhstan and China had been deepening cooperation in all areas, including the economy, science and technology, security, and culture, Saudabayev said. In 2005, the two countries established a strategic partnership.

    "Kazakhstan and China hold similar positions on major international and regional issues," he said. "Both countries support non-interference in the internal affairs of independent countries, and favor settling international disputes through coordination. These create favorable conditions for sustainable bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation."

    Trade cooperation between the two countries had great potential, said Saudabayev. The trade volume had already reached the 15-billion-U.S.-dollar target leaders of the two countries had set for the year 2015.

    Energy cooperation is an important part of bilateral trade, he said. The Kazakhstan-China natural gas pipeline program was a landmark cooperative program with mutual benefits, and was conducive to diverse energy development in Central Asia as well as the world.

    China had also become the most popular place to study for Kazakh students, Saudabayev said. According to China's statistics, currently there are more than 5,000 Kazakh college students studying in China.

    During President Hu's visit, the two countries' leaders would review bilateral cooperation this year and plan for future cooperation, the Kazakh foreign minister said.

    "One thing is for sure," said Saudabayev. "President Hu Jintao's visit will give new momentum to the Kazakhstan-China strategic partnership."